Genesis 41:1-36 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Genesis 41:1-36. Let’s go!
Genesis 41:1-8 (NIV)
1 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile,
2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds.
3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank.
4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk.
6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted–thin and scorched by the east wind.
7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.
8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
On verses 1-8: Here we see that a problem that Pharaoh could not understand and could not solve himself would ultimately lead him to God and give an opportunity for someone from among God’s people to bring a God-inspired solution. When you face a problem for which you and others don’t have a simple solution, see it as an opportunity for God to use His people to bring the help needed.
Genesis 41:9-13 (NIV)
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.
10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.
11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.
12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.
13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”
On verses 9-13: The cupbearer is finally reminded of how two years before (v1) he had promised to help get Joseph out of prison. The cupbearer speaks to Pharaoh about Joseph and his dream interpretations at just the time when Pharaoh needed someone to interpret his dreams. God can use even the mistakes that people make – the ways they forget or are irresponsible – and use them to write an even greater story. That is not to say we should not concern ourselves with being responsible and keeping our word, but even when we or others make mistakes, remember God’s mercy, power and story are bigger than our mistakes.
Genesis 41:14-16 (NIV)
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
On verse 16: Joseph was not confident in his own abilities, but confident in God’s ability to interpret and explain Pharaoh’s dreams. Likewise, may we not boast in our own abilities, but in what God can do (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
Genesis 41:17-32 (NIV)
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,
18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.
19 After them, seven other cows came up–scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt.
20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first.
21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22 “In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk.
23 After them, seven other heads sprouted–withered and thin and scorched by the east wind.
24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it to me.”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream.
27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.
28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.
29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.
31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.
32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
On verses 17-32: Joseph explains that God was using these dreams to tell Pharaoh what God is about to do (v25) and then Joseph goes ahead and clearly explains the dreams. It’s a reminder to me that leaders need to be listening for what God is saying. Also, God wants those in leadership to be thinking ahead, to be aware of opportunities and problems that may be waiting just over the horizon. May God give you wisdom to hear and understand what God is saying, as well as insight to anticipate what is ahead so that you can lead the people in your care with great effectiveness.
Genesis 41:33-36 (NIV)
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.
35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.
36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
On verses 33-36: Starting in verse 33 Joseph goes beyond interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams and begins to give practical suggestions on what to do in light of what God has spoken to Pharaoh. That is wisdom: not just knowing and understanding what God has said, but also knowing what to do in light of what God has said. Whenever God speaks to you, whether through the Scriptures or in dreams, may you not just have understanding about what is being said, but may you also have wisdom to know what to do in response to what has been said.
Heavenly Father, I pray that I would be able to hear You speak, understand what You say, and have wisdom to know what to do in light of what You have said. Like Joseph, may my confidence not be in my own abilities, but in You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
